Power-actuated apparatus for setting pins



July 14, 1953 T. E. MEAD 2,645,485

POWER-ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR SETTING PINS A 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR.- Wedd,

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July 14, 1953 T. E. MEAD PowER-ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR SETTING PINS Filed March 30, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

' Patented July 14, 1953 or FICE POWER-ACTUATED APPARATUS FOR SETTING'PIN S Theodore E. Mead, Wilmette, Ill.

Application March 30, 1949, Serial N0.'84,285

, 3 Claims.

This invention relates to power-actuated pinsetting apparatus for bowling alleys; in particular, it concerns apparatus which will automatically spot bowling pins in position with substantially the same action as has in the past been employed manually by expert pin boys.

This application is a continuation in ,part of my co-pending application, Serial No.25,856, for Power-Actuated YPin-Setting Apparatus, iled May 8, 1948, now Patent No. 2,621,930, issued December 16, 1952; all subject matter contained in said co-pending application which is applicable to the disclosure of the present application is made a part hereof by reference.

Itis a particular object of this invention to provide automatic apparatus for use with a conventional pin-setting machine which will substantially duplicate, in the operation of such machine, the action normally imparted thereto manually by a skilled operator.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in combination with a pneumatic power device for actuating a pin-setting machine, further and additional means which regulate the timed application of force to the pin-setting apparatus to duplicate the manual operation of a skilled pin boy.

Still another object of my invention is to provide automatic Vactuating apparatus particularly adapted for use with a pin-setting machine of the Well-known type wherein the pins are normally carried on cradles in a semi-horizontal position and tipped into erect position just before they are brought in contact with the alley.

- Other objects and advantages of my invention Will appear as the specification proceeds.

I have illustrated a typical embodiment of my invention in the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a bowling alley having a pin-setting machine equipped with my novel automatic actuating apparatus; Fig. 2, a side view, partly in section and partly in elevation, of the Aapparatus of Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a sectional View of the principal components of the automatic actuation apparatus embodied in my invention; Fig. 4, a view in cross section of a portion of the apparatus of Fig. 3, the section being taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a side View, partly in section, of the apparatus of Fig. 1, showing in detail the structure of the'pin-setting machine; and Fig. 6, a, view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the apparatus at a later stage of its operative cycle.

While Vthe structure of the pin-setting apparatus proper is of great importance in an understanding of 'my invention, since it explains the purpose underlying certain of the Vfeatures of my invention, it is not believed necessary to enter herein into anextended description of such pinsetting apparatusfor the reason that it is-widely known and conventional. Accordingly,v I shall herein describef the pin-setting apparatus proper only to theextent'believed'necessary to provide a` full understanding of my invention and its pure poses-and functions.

In the drawings, a bowling alley II] is shown; it is providedwith the conventionalside walls Iiia on-each of -whichis mountedanupright support I I, such supports serving A as supporting membersfor-the pin-setting machine `and my autow -matic actuating apparatus. #At the upper ends of supports I I, plates I-5--serve as end supports for a pair of transverse tubes I3-and I4 which extend acrossfthe alley between the two upright supports II.

Extending -upward` from transverse bars I-3 and I4 -and symmetrically spaced thereon with respect to the midline ofthe alley III are 4a pair ofupright' tubes t6. Tothe upper ends of tubes I Sra pair of backwardly-and-upwardly-extending brackets l2'! are rigidly affixed. -At their rearward ends brackets 2l are bolted orotherwise laffixed together-s0 as to forma generallyV-shaped support bracket for the automatic actuating apparatus lhereinafter described.

A support bracket-I2 `extends 'from each of the'plates I5 toa suitable-mounting xture on the upper edgeof side-wall Ida, thus reinforcing 'the pin-setting machine and the automatic actuating apparatus. The pin holder and spotting apparatus lI'I is 'supported on a pair of vertical larms 2I which `are-pivoted vat their upper ends t0 aA pair of scissorselike-'levers 20 vwhich are pivote'd to a suitable bearing (not shown) supported at the midpoint of transverse members I3` and ifi. Alever 25 ispivoted to each of the plates' I5 and is orientedto extend generally backward thereof the levers '25' are ljoined at theirfree ends by a transverse bar24 which, inthe'conventional pini-setting machine, serves as a handle for manualactuation. A pair of Ylevers 23 are pivoted respectively'to theleversl'z near the free ends thereof and are pivoted at their lower ends to the pin-setting frame Il. Theythus serve to support 'and steady'that frame and Aprovide a lever linkage to cause it to be lowered toward the alley when the hand-1e`24 is depressed.

Coil'springs (not shown) carriedwith-in-the transverse tubes I3 andA I4 exertaforce en the scissors-like =1evers 20=tendingto maintain pinsetting frame l1 in a raised position over the alley and, except when sufficient downward force is being exerted on handle 2t, the aforesaid springs cause the frame l1 to rise from the alley and occupy its normal position thereabove. The structure just described is conventional and it or its equivalent is found in all pin-setting machines in general use.

The construction of pin-setting frame Il may be of any desired form; a number of different forms of such frames have been developed. They have in common the property that provision is made for receiving bowling pins in the frame in a substantially horizontal or reclining position. When the pin setter is ready to spot the pins on the alley, the pin-setting frame can be made to raise the pins to a vertical position and to place them on the appropriate spots on the' alley. In the drawings, I have illustrated a typical frame structure; the main outer frame I1 is provided with two sets of horizontal cradle members which are denoted I and 52. Cradle members 52 are fixed in position relative to frame l1, but cradle members 5l are free to move with respect to members 52 in the manner hereinafter described. The rear face of each of the members 5l, other than those at the extreme lback of the frame, is provided with a transverse vertical extension 5i) which serves as part of the means for aligning the pins in their`proper positions. The two sets of cradle members are joined together by a plurality of links 50; links 5U are bell-crank levers; they are pivoted to the frame I1 at a suitable point intermediate their ends, while -their upper ends are pivoted to the movable cradle members 5I. The lower end of each of the bell-crank levers 50 is pivoted to a link 54 which joins lever 50 to the free end of a lever 55, the other end of which is keyed to shaft 56.A Shaft 55 is mounted in suitable bearings on 'the fixed frame l1. Shaft 56 also carries a pinion 51 keyed thereto. Pinion 51 co-operates with a rack 58 which is slidably mounted on the under side of frame i1 and terminates at its lower end in a padded or resilient foot 58a. Lever 55 is held normally by spring 5S in a position of maximum displacement to the right as viewed in Fig. 5.

From an examination of Fig. 5 it will be seen that when the pin-setting frame I1 is in any position substantially above the alley the cradle members 5l and 52 provide support for the bowling pins 53 in a reclining, almost horizontal position. At such times, the cradle members 5l and the vertical end plates 59 are held in their most retracted position by the bell-crank levers 50 and the spring-s 59. The lbowling pins 53 can thus rest on the upper surface of members 52 with their bases against members 50 and their necks resting on the respective leading edges of cradle members 5l.

It .will be understood that in a typical pin-setting frame of the type shown in Figs. 5 and 6, there will be perhaps three or four of the rack and pinion structures 51, 58 andthe mechanical linkage associated therewith. These will be symmetrically distributed over the frame structure l1 and will all work together as a unit, since the various feet 58a will strike the alley simultaneously. The single rack and pinion structure detailed in Figs. 5 and 6 is thus illustrative of the several such structures which would be found in an actual pin-setting frame.

When the frame is lowered to bring the feet 58a into contact with the alley surface, the rack 58 is moved upward relative to the frame l1 and pinion 51 is accordingly rotated through a substantial arc, resulting in the shift of lever 55 to the position shown in Fig. 6. This causes the advance of cradle members 5l and vertical members S0, pushing the pins 53 forward and at the lsame time opening up for them a vertical channel into which they slide, landing upright and on the appropriate spots on the alley, as shown in Fig. 6.

As will be seen from the drawings and the foregoing description, the successful operation of the pin-setting frame requires that the frame be lowered with a snap or vigorous movement through the last few inches of its downward path.

` While the details of construction of lpin-setting frames vary from one installation to another, all of them in general use operate on principles similar to that herein described and all of them, for proper pin-setting action, must be brought into pin-setting position with a sudden vigorous movement. This is rendered necessary by the fact that the inertia imparted `to the pins by the nal snap action of the frame is largely responsible for accomplishing clean and accurate shift of position of the pins into the vertical channels which guide them to their nal positions. Failure to lower the pin frame with sucha snap action at the end of the stroke frequently results in jamming of one or more pins in the frame or in the falling of a pin after the frame has been raised owing to the pins not being cleanly seated on the alley within the guiding channel.

Expert pin boys developa technique in the manual operation of pin-setting machines in which they lower the frame at a substantially uniformy rate of speed until approximately the point in the stroke whereat the feet 58aengage the alley. From that point to the end of the downward movement of the frame, the expert pin boy greatly accelerates the rate o f downward movement, thus imparting the desired snap to the frame. In studying the operation of pin-setting machines I have discovered the importance of the final snap action in the lowering of a pin frame, and have developed power-actuated apparatus for pin-setting machines which accurately reproduces the action imparted to a pinsetting frame by an expert pin boy. The principal components of such power-actuated apparatus are a pneumatic power cylinder 36 and a hydraulic cylinder 10, shown in all of the figures and illustrated in detail in Figs. 3 and 4.

The power cylinder 30 is provided with upper and lower closure members 35a and 38h respectively, threaded to t securely into the ends of the cyl1nder. Thev upper closure member 30a is modified to provide a bifurcated mounting meinber 30C, each fork of which carries a central aperture. `Mounting member 35o is secured by a suitable pin to the junction of the bracket members 21. Closure member 35a also carries a port 30d wh1ch terminates in a suitable coupling member to which is afi'lxed a pneumatic air hose 83. Hose 83 extends from the coupling at the upper end of cylinder 30 to aj manually-actuable 'valve 45 which is mounted on one of theupright rods I6 A second hose 83a may extend from valve 16 to any suitable source of compressed air.

Valve 46 is provided also with an at vent and may be any pneumatic valve clalgelo connecting hose 83 to the pressure line 83a or to atmosphere at will. A suitable valve is described and shown in detail in my reo-pending application, Serial No. 25,856, of which this is a n continuation lin part.

.The bottomclosure 36h of a cylinder iscentrally :drilled to permit .passage `of' piston 'rod .32. In addition, an `air vent '8| is providedinmem- `ber 30h. l

l.A piston.3I .is `affixeldrto .the upper end of piston rod 32; the piston may beaof `conventional structure including the. usual7 leather or synthetic rubber cup Sla which serves as packing ,andto prevent passage of lair aroundthepiston. A centering discl is carried by. .pistonfrod SZeaIrapont substantially below thezupper end ofthe piston rod; this discis machined to fit fairly snuglyain cylinder 130. It functions to'prevent..binding of the Vpiston rod against closure vmember 3Ilb. during operation ofthe apparatus.

A collar 12 is clamped aroundthe outsdeof cylinder '30 near its upperl end and is employed to hold securely the upper end of fa piston rod11I which co-operates with ahydraulic cylinder 10. Rod 1I is clamped by set screw 12a into alcylindrical aperture provided therefor in collar i12; rod 1I is oriented parallel to the axis of cylinder 39. At its lowerend piston rod r1I carries a hollow piston 13, threaded at its upper end to cooperate with threads on the lower portion of rod 1I, vAs may be seen by examination of FigsfB and 4, the rod'1I is provided at its lower extremity with two flattened regions which produce a passageway into the hollow interior. of piston 13 even after it has been screwed snugly into engagement with the rod 1I. The bottom of piston 13 has a central yaperture providing communication between the hollow interior of member 13 and the interior of cylinder 1E) therebelowyan'd a steel ball 'I rests in aperture 13a to form a ball-check valve.

The bottom of cylinder isclosed by a threaded plug member 18a, Wh'ile'the upper'portion of cylinder 10 is closed by a threaded `closure member 10b. Member 10b is provided with a central aperture to permit passage of piston rod 1I, and packing material is carried between the.lower side of closure member 10b and an annular ilange 1ilc on the upper end of cylinder 10. As will be seen from reference to Fig. 3, the closure lmember 10b and the flange 13e combine with the packing to form a stuiilng box at the top-fof cylinder 10. In being prepared for use, cylinder 10 is lled with oil and then sealed shutby tightlyl screwing closure member 10a into engagement `with cylinder 1U. l

A collar or coupling member 32a joins the lower end of piston rod 32 rigidly to the lower end of the cylinder 10, so that reciprocation of piston SI is necessarily accompanied by reciprocation of cylinder 10 over the fixed piston rod 1I.

The length of cylinder 10'is adjusted so as to provide a permissible piston stroke within cylinder 1I] slightly in excess of the total stroke of piston 3l necessary to carry the handle 24 from its normal upward position to its maximum downward position. The inner surface of cylinder 19 is machined throughout the greater portion of its length to exceed by a slight amount in cross-sectional area the sectional area of the piston 13, so that a iiow of oil around piston 13 within cylinder 1n is possible, although itV the-wallof cylinder 1-wl1en the piston' isv in this enlargedvdiameter zone, marked 10c. on.Fig. 3.

In preparing the apparatus for use in actuation ;of a pin-setting machine,A the position of piston Vrod 1| may be adjusted, by temporarily loosening setscrew 12a, tothe .point :where the piston 13 escapes from the restrictedl passage 'm cylinder`10 and intothe enlargeddiameter zone 16e at the instant the feet 58a come `into contact with the .alley surface during the .downward .stroke ofthe handle 24. VWhenthis optimum positionhas -been located,set screwA 12a may be tightened again and the piston rod 1I left permanently in that position. L i

Inthe operationof myriinvention, the lower `end vof the piston rod 32 is securelyfafxed by a coupling Vmemberi'35 to the midpoint of handle 24. Thesprings carried in tubes I3 and I4 nor-- mally maintain the pin-setting frame I1 at its -upperprretracted position, and the cylinders .3U and 1I! oifer no substantial opposition to such retractionof frame 'I1, since pistonj will be lubricated to slide smoothlywithin `cylinder 30 andthe ball-check valve 14, 13a permits free and rapid movement of the -cylinder 1i) in the upward direction, since the ball 14 is unseated from aperture 13a by the force of the oil and the oil iiows freely through the hollow piston 13 into the zoneY of cylinder 1U abovethe piston.

When the operator desires to set the pins he makes the appropriate `manual adjustment of 'valve 46 to connect the pressure line 83a to the hose 83. This results in the imposition of a super-atmospheric fluid pressure on the upper side of piston 3I and the piston and piston rod immediately `begin a downward movement. This movement proceeds at a steady, uniform pace until the feet 58a come into engagement with the alley surface. At that instant, the piston 13 passes into the enlarged diameter zone10e of cylinder"10 and the accumulated fluid pressure in cylinder 30, Vbeing suddenly freed of the resistance offered by piston `1,3, very'rapidl'y accelerates the downward motion of frame I1 and seats it -on'the alley witlra snap.` This resuits in clean and accurate spotting of the pins, since the inertia imparted to the pins by the acceleration insures that they will move into Athe proper vertical position in the vertical channels between' plates BEI and members 52.

Thus it will .be seen that my invention substantially duplicates the` action given `a pin-settingmachine by a skilled manual operator. The particular virtue of my invention lies in the sudden acceleration given the pin-setting frame during the last few inches of its motion, after a slower, steady movement theretofore. This change from normal speed at the end of the stroke is essential; I have found that equivalent results are not obtained by moving the frame rapidly from the start. When rapid movement of the frame throughout its downward stroke is adopted, the pressure in the cylinder 30 decreases as the frame drops and as the volume of air in cylinder 36 above piston 3l increases. The inevitable result is that the frame is decelerating as it nears the alley surface, and the motion imparted to the feet 58a and thence to cradle members 5I is not the sudden, snappy motion necessary to satisfactorily seat the pins but is a, lighter, gradual motion likely to leave the pins jammed in the frame or not properly seated so as to remain standing on their spots when the frame is retracted. By the use of my invention, however, the frame is accelerated gereist sharply when feet 58a engage the alley surface, and highly satisfactory pin-setting operation is achieved.

While I have in this specication described for purposes of illustration a single embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that many variations in details may be made by Dersons skilled in the art without departing 'from the spirit of my invention. Accordingly, I desire that the illustrated embodiment be considered exemplary only and that the scope of the invention be determined by referencel to the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In pin-setting apparatus, a pin-setting carriage mounted for vertical movement, mechanism arranged with said carriage for exerting a constant force thereagainst to move said carriage downwardly toward pin-setting position, and means arranged with said mechanism operative to resist downward movement of said carriage during the greater portion of its movement into pin-setting position while being inoperative to resist the downward movement thereof during the nal portion of such movement toward pin-setting position comprising a hydraulic cylinder equipped with a piston slidably movable relative thereto, said piston and cylinder being related in a relatively tight slidable engagement through a greater portion of the length of said cylinder while the remaining portion of said cylinder is enlarged to provide a passage for the now of iiuid between said `cylinder and piston to render it inoperative to resist movement of said carriage.

2. In pin-setting apparatus, a pin-setting carriage mountedv for vertical movement and equipped with a lhandle extending laterally therefrom, a fluid pressure cylinder equipped with 'a piston connected to said handle for moving said carriage downwardly, means for supplying a fluid at constant pressure to said cylinder to actu'ate said piston, and a hydraulic cylinder equipped with va piston and arranged with said uid pressure cylinder and piston to retard the rate of movement of said carriage through the initial and greater portion of its movement into a downward, pin-setting position while being inoperative to retard the movement of said carriage through the final portion of its downward movement, said hydraulic piston and cylinder being in a relatively tight slidable engagement throughout the major portion of the piston stroke and said hydraulic cylinder being enlarged in diameter through a portion of its length to permit the free passage o1" fluid between the piston and cylinder wall when the pistontravels through the remaining portion of its stroke.

3. In pin-setting apparatus, a frame providing spaced vertical guides, a pin-setting carriage mounted upon said guides for vertical movement, arms fixed to the upper end portions of said `guides and extending inwardly toward each other, a pressure cylinder pivotally connected to said arms and provided witha piston, la piston rod connected to said piston at its upper end and at its lower end connected to said carriage, means for admitting fluid under constant pressure into said pressure cylinder to move said piston, a hydraulic cylinder rigidly connected to said piston rod and being equipped with a piston, a rod connected at one end to said lastmentioned piston and at its other end rigidly connected to said pressure cylinder, said hydraulic cylinder being substantially lilled with a liquid 'and slidably receiving its piston in a relatively tight yrelationship through a portion of its length whereby the rate of movement of the piston in said hydraulic cylinder is retarded yby the action of said liquid through a portion of the length of said hydraulic cylinder, said hydraulic cylinder being enlarged adjacent one end whereby the liquid may pass freely between the `cylinder wall and piston and said fluid is ineffective to retard the rate of movement thereof through this portion of the piston stroke.

. THEODORE E. MEAD.

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